Campaigner ‘over the moon’ as Hillsborough Law returns to Commons

A campaigner whose son died in the Hillsborough disaster says she is “over the moon” amid news a proposed law to improve accountability in public office is likely to clear the House of Commons this week.

The law change, officially known as the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, would create a legally-enforceable duty of candour which compels public officials and authorities to act transparently when investigations and inquiries take place.

It takes its name from the Hillsborough disaster in 1989 when 97 Liverpool fans were killed at the football stadium in Sheffield in a crush during an FA Cup semi-final match.

Margaret Aspinall, whose 18-year-old son James died in the disaster, said she was “absolutely delighted, over the moon, absolutely made up”.

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said he was “confident” the draft legislation would be back “in the coming days” at the despatch box last week, but other Government figures suggested it would not return until after the summer recess.

If passed, the Bill could form one of Sir Keir Starmer’s last acts as Prime Minister.

Ms Aspinall, who chairs the Hillsborough Family Support group, said:

“When I was speaking to Keir Starmer, I told him this would be a lovely legacy for you to leave behind.

“I always believed he wanted to give us the Hillsborough Law. It was others stopping him. Now it’s done.”

She continued:

“Our families have worked hard for this, but it’s not for us, it’s for the country. We’ve done it for the people of this country. I’m so proud.

“People have to tell the truth, whoever they are. The lies have cost millions. The cover-ups have cost millions. The truth costs nothing.”

After the disaster, key public servants, including the police, were found to have not told the truth about the decisions taken leading up to the fatal crush at the Leppings Lane end of the ground.

Both Sir Keir and his likely successor, Andy Burnham have expressed support for the law change, but it has been repeatedly delayed over concerns from the security services about how it could impact spies.

The Government now believes it has reached a point where individual employees and ex-employees of the intelligence services will be covered by a duty of candour, without compromising national security.

This will be set out in amendments to the Bill, due to be debated this week.

A Government source said:

“This is an overwhelming victory after months of hard work to find a solution that ensures we have a duty of candour that applies to the intelligence services without compromising national security.

“The Hillsborough Law will fundamentally change the balance of power so the state can never hide from the people it is supposed to serve, and so victims can always get justice.”

Victims’ minister Catherine Atkinson said:

“There is no carve-out. What has been absolutely clear is that there will be a duty of candour, but it’s the way that it is carried out.

“So, in consultation with the security services, we’ve ensured that there are safeguards so that information that’s provided is done so securely and appropriately.”

The latest amendments to the Bill create a process where intelligence employees send information under the duty of candour to the head of their organisation, who would then be responsible for passing it on to public investigators.

The Hillsborough Law Now campaign, which has been campaigning for the law change, welcomed news that the Bill will return to the Commons, and described it as “a major step towards delivering the landmark changes that bereaved families and survivors have fought for over decades to prevent state cover-ups”.

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